Civjanovic: "It's time" for a winning season

Civjanovic: "It's time" for a winning season

CHICAGO - Illinois has won just six games in Tim Beckman's first two years in Champaign-Urbana, and the Illini haven't played in a bowl game since 2011 - and senior Simon Cvijanovic has had enough. The offensive lineman will be leaned on to anchor a veteran group up front, but also mentor the next group of Illini players who are just beginning to make names for themselves. And Cvijanovic says the losing has to stop.

CHICAGO - Illinois has won just six games in Tim Beckman's first two years in Champaign-Urbana, and the Illini haven't played in a bowl game since 2011 - and senior Simon Cvijanovic has had enough. The offensive lineman will be leaned on to anchor a veteran group up front, but also mentor the next group of Illini players who are just beginning to make names for themselves. And Cvijanovic says the losing has to stop.

"We've had 2 losing seasons now - I think it's time we have a winning season," Cvijanovic said. "We go to a nice bowl game and finish this thing right."

Cvijanovic is one of 18 seniors on the roster looking to finish their careers strong. Tim Beckman is hoping to win enough games to save his job. He was asked about his job security at Big Ten Media Day, and alluded to conversations he has had with athletic director Mike Thomas.

"Mike Thomas has asked for our program to continue to get better," Beckman said. "And we did. I mean, we won more games. We won more away games. We won more home games. We have made strides to get better. Now, it's not the numbers that we all want, but we did get better."

They'll open the season August 30 at home against Youngstown State.

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